Pro Bike Gallery: John Degenkolb’s Giant Defy Advanced SL

John Degenkolb rides Giant's Defy road bike for the bergs and cobbles of Flanders

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John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) rides a 2014 Giant Defy Advanced SL frame for the Ronde van Vlaanderen, rather than the company’s Defy endurance frame, which will likely be pulled out for Paris-Roubaix. The bike is built up with Shimano parts throughout, including a Dura-Ace Di2 group, PRO cockpit, low-profile Shimano wheels, and a PRO saddle. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Degenkolb rides a 130mm PRO Vibe stem. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Degenkolb uses traditional-bend bars with the tops of his hoods set level to the ground. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Giant-Alpecin mechanics permanently attach a number holder to the back of each bike¹s seat mast. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Degenkolb’s father, Frank, surprised his son with this baby-foot sticker at the start in Brugge. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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All the cobble and hill sectors listed with kilometer markers. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Degenkolb rides with Shimano’s climbing shifter, which allows him to shift from the tops. It’s a valuable feature for the cobbles. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The team uses Pioneer power meters and head units. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Fat, unlabeled 26mm tires on Degenkolb’s bike. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Bottles are marked so soigneurs know when to pass them off or put them on a bike. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The UCI has to approve every frame used by the pros, and each approved frame must be available for sale. That’s no big deal for the Defy, which is raced all season. But some companies, like Trek, have developed special bikes for Flanders or Roubaix that they then have to sell, albeit in limited quantities, to the public. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Plenty of room in the fork and brake of the Defy. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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121 marks Degenkolb as Giant-Alpecin’s leader. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tiny cable wrap for the brake line and Di2 cables. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Degenkolb has extra shifters on his drops, too. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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A PRO Turnix saddle stands between Degenkolb and the Flandrien cobbles. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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A Pioneer power meter and regular 53/39 chainrings on the Dura-Ace crankset. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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An 11-28 cassette out back leaves Degenkolb with plenty of gear options.

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